Conductor-tapping device



Ap1 il30, 1940.

R. PITTMAN ET AL CONDUCTOR-TAPPING DEVICE Filed Sept. 11, 1959 INVENTORSPatented Apr, 30, 1940 N-ITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE oonnooroa-mrrmennvrolt RnPit tman and Carroll H. Walsh,P inc Bluff, Arkq ApplicationSeptember 11, 1939 Serial No. 294,300 r 6 Claims. c ne-F273) Thisinvention relates generally to clamps adapted for electricallyconnecting a tap wire to an energizedconductor, such devices being oftenreferred to as hot line clamps.

Among the objects of the present invention may be noted (1) theprovision of means for attaching and electrically connecting a clamp toa conductor, together with means for connecting and disconnecting a tapwire respectively to and i from: the clamp, such an arrangement assuringthat the conductor to which the clamp is attached will be unaffected byany arcing which may attend the connection or disconnection of the tapwire; (2) the provision of a clamp which is attached to theconductorthrough resilient engagement therewith, so that a weight whichis rigidly attached to the conductor is avoided, for the purpose ofpreventing embrittlement of; l the conductor atthe point of attachmentof the clamp;;(3) and the provision of means for initially) connectingthe tap wire and subsequently disconnecting the tap wire in response toapredetermined downward movement of a contact member to which the tapwire is secured.

{ t These and other objects will appear as the description proceeds, andthescope of the invention will be set forth in the appended claims. Inthe drawing, Fig. 1 is a side elevational viewof theinvention; Fig. 2 isa front elevational view, shown partly insection. M

Referring in detail to the drawing, the con ductor-clamp I is preferablyformed of a single piece" of; an inherently resilient conductor, such asa'bronze wire, or a steel wire covered by a i layerof copper. The clampl0 consists broadly of two portions, an upper conductor-clampingportion, and a lower contact-engaging portion.

The upper conductor-clamping portion originates at the respective endsof the single wire forming the clamp, which are formed together by thecopper sleeve 20. From the latter, the resilient wire extends upwardlyin the form of the loops l2 and 26, above the conductor 25, to provide acoil which continually urges the portions l4 and 13 against theconductor 25, positioned therebetween, and in this manner the device isresiliently attached to the conductor to be tapped.

The loops. l2 and 26 also provide an eyeinto which a manipulating toolmay be inserted, for the purpose of placing the clamp on the conductorbymeans of an insulated tool. V The, lower contact-engaging portion ofthe clamp ID is formed by two spaced portions of the wire which extendbelow the conductor 25 initially in spaced relation, the portions l5 andi6 the contact member H.

opening formed by the outwardly bent portions and it of thec1amp,forfrictionally engaging the adjacent and opposed surfaces of the con- 15tact-engaging portions l1 and H3, and for slidably moving downwardlybetween the latter portions to the, loop H], the latter being somewhatlarger than the contactor 2| to permit easy release of the contactmember from the clamp. The con- 0 tactmember is provided with avertically BX- tending aperture for receiving atap wire 23, and a screw24 threadedly engages an opening in registry with the tap wire opening,to mechan icaily and electrically connect the tap wire23 to 5Amanipulating eye 22 is integrally formed with the contactor 2|, for

ease in handling the contact member and connected tap wire.

The procedurefor applying and utilizing the conductor-tapping devicewill normally consist in first setting the clamp II] on the conductor25, by means of a suitable insulated tool in cooperation with the upperloops l2 and 26. The tool is then removed from the loops l2 and 26,inserted through the lower loop 19, and the clamp l0 pulled downwarduntil it firmlygrips the conductor 25 between the portions l3 and 14.The clamp is now in position to receive the contact member- I l, towhich the tap wire 23 has been previously attached. The insulated toolis now inserted through the eye 22, and the contactmember pulleddownwardly through the opening formed by the outwardly bent portions l 5and I6 andinto frictional and resilient engagement with the juxtaposedspaced portions l1 and I8. This is the normal connected position of theconductor-tapping device. Should it be desired to electricallydisconnect the tap wire 23 from the conductor 25, the manipulating toolmay again be inserted through the eye 22, and the contact member llagain pulled downwardly through the juxtaposed portions ll and I8, untilthe contactor 2| is released by passing into the opening of the loop H),from which it may be removed.

